Choi Kyung-sook, Medical Volunteer for 45 Years, Receives Grand Prize at Friendship Good Deeds Awards

Kolon Group Oun Cultural Foundation 22nd Friendship and Good Deeds Award Ceremony

Choi Kyung-sook, Grand Prize Winner of the 22nd Woojeong Good Deeds Award by Kolon Group Oun Cultural Foundation

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Choi Kyung-sook, who has been providing free medical services for 45 years, was selected as the grand prize winner of the Friendship Good Deeds Award.

The Kolon Group Ohwoon Cultural Foundation held the 22nd Friendship Good Deeds Award ceremony on the 25th at the Kolon One & Only Tower in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Chairman Lee Woong-yeol, judging committee chairman Son Bong-ho, other judges, and last year’s awardees attended. The Friendship Good Deeds Award was established in 2001 to widely publicize hidden good deeds and heartwarming stories in our society.

Choi, who was selected for the grand prize, has been called the godmother of medical volunteer work through her 45 years of medical service. She first participated in medical volunteer activities in 1976 during her second year as an obstetrics and gynecology resident. In 1993, together with her husband Choi Byung-han, a pediatric specialist, she founded the 'Sorok Milalhoe' to care for Hansen’s disease patients on Sorokdo Island and began full-scale medical volunteer work. Sorok Milalhoe still visits Sorokdo twice a year to extend helping hands to Hansen’s disease patients.

After being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 1999, Choi reportedly gained willpower and courage for life from an elderly Hansen’s disease patient on Sorokdo. Since then, she has organized medical volunteer teams for Hansen’s disease patients worldwide and started overseas activities in the Philippines, Africa, India, and other countries.

She has served as president of the Korean Christian Women Doctors Association, deputy head of the Seoul Medical Association Volunteer Corps, chairperson of the Korean Women Doctors Overseas Medical Volunteer Committee, and president of the Good People Medical Association. Currently, she leads the Korea University Alumni Medical Volunteer Corps, heads the Good Medical Forum, and serves as medical director of the Milal Disabled Welfare Association, among other roles, balancing various activities.

Additionally, the main award was given to three individuals (teams): 'Nanum-ui Dungji' (Nest of Sharing), which has operated a daily hope meal service for marginalized neighbors; 'Youth Freedom School,' which has provided free education including GED preparation for out-of-school youth; and Han Hong-su, who has conducted traditional Korean music education activities for people with disabilities for 19 years.

Foundation Chairman Lee Woong-yeol said, "I thought that Choi’s long-term, selfless volunteer work based on her professional expertise over 45 years, her overcoming health difficulties, and her commitment to filling her life with service by expanding her volunteer activities to various targets and locations could serve as a great example to our society. I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude not only to Choi but also to all today’s awardees who have quietly shared their warm hands in various areas of society."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.